Brittany is one of the owners of the Healthy Home Company, a successful consumer products company that uses word of mouth marketing to sell over 90 all natural products to its members. She is a director of the Toxic Free Foundation and created the first ever Toxic Free Certification Program. Weekly, Brittany publishes the Toxic Free Blog and is the author of a Toxic Free educational series and co-author of several Toxic Free learning programs.

Artificial food dyes such as FD&C Red #40, and Yellow #5 & 6, have been linked to developmental and behavioral problems in children, according to various studies. One study by the United Kingdom’s Food Standards Agency in 2007 supports that consumption of foods containing dyes could increase hyperactive behavior in children.

I will admit sometimes my family dives into homemade treats that include chocolate and sugar. And sometimes when we are traveling and have to eat out, we may consume foods that are not organic. But, we are very strict about not consuming foods with artificial dyes such as Red #40.

Why am I such a stickler on this one? Because my own nightmare lasted for years. I would suddenly become extremely ill with no warning. With age I realized I had an allergy to red food dye #40. I finally found a correlation between eating “red” foods and my acute illness.

Did you know those fun rainbow colored cupcakes your children adore contain a nice dose of chemicals derived from petroleum? Unfortunaly, it’s not only colorful icing you have to worry about. Many packaged foods including certain brands of macaroni and cheese, Lunchables, yogurts, cereals, jellos, chips, and sugary drinks also contain added food dyes.

Food coloring is a tactic the food industry has employed for decades. And we the consumers have purchased these brightly, fun colored foods which add chemicals to our diets without much thought.

Many countries in the world ban these artificial dyes due to health concerns. If you and your family would like to eliminate synthetic food dyes from your diet here are someof the most harmful ones to be aware of: Blue #1, Blue #2, Citrus Red, Green #3, Orange B, Red #3, Red #40, Yellow #5, and Yellow #6.

It’s a new year and a good time to add a healthy habit to your continued commitment to be toxic free!